Kitty Clark Fritz/Special to The Tribune

Chuck Opdyke (right), call name KC5GA, shows off a radio antenna he's selling to his friend Paul Richey, call name AG3B, during the annual swap meet in Albuquerque for local amateur radio enthusiasts. "Radio goes all around the world," says Opdyke, who first got involved with radio during the Korean War. "It's something to enjoy, meeting so many people from all walks of life."

Kitty Clark Fritz/Special to The Tribune

A box of old transistors sits ready for the taking during a swap meet for amateur radio enthusiasts. The meet was in April at Del Norte High School.

Kitty Clark Fritz/Special to The Tribune

Chuck Opdyke packs up his "Estate Sale" offerings at an amateur radio swap meet. Opdyke operates his radio from his RV. He started the first tailgate swap event in Albuquerque in 1977.

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Climbers hung nervously in the middle of a 1,200-foot cliff face in the Sandia Mountains.

Their leader, an experienced guide, had fallen and lay critically injured below.

Across town, Peter Naumburg, who was attending a ham-radio fest, got a phone call.

The event happened several years ago when Naumburg, 61, had just started using his favorite hobby of amateur radio to save people's lives. But it's one that sticks with him, he said.

"I was called out from the ham fest, and it was a big deal," Naumburg said. "All of a sudden there were five helicopters, and I was on the radio directing air traffic - in the middle of the night."

This year, besides the usual smattering of lost or injured hikers in the Sandias, the National Interagency Fire Center is predicting above-normal fire activity in southern New Mexico through August, and there are concerns that summer could bring a repeat of last year's rains and floods.

The emergency skills of Naumburg and other amateur radio enthusiasts will no doubt be put to use again. And there's room for more - anybody with a little technological curiosity is welcome to join their ranks, Naumburg said.

Amateur radio enthusiasts use low-power transmitters to communicate, sometimes over great distances, with like-minded operators, and often for public service.

Naumburg, who got his first FCC license in 1958, has done 398 search-and-rescue missions with his team in the last 10 years. Those have included lost hikers, downed planes and injured climbers.

"When there's a problem, our team comes in with ham radio," Naumburg said. "If we need more help, more supplies, and other communication lines are jammed, we can still get in touch and get those things."

In the case of the injured climbers, Naumburg found himself in the role of air traffic controller. Other times, he has ended up calling for help or flying with helicopter teams searching for people trapped in mountains all over New Mexico, he said.

Fortunately, in the case of the injured climber, one of the five helicopters was able to crane him out of the dangerous mountains - along with his girlfriend, who was injured while stuck on the rock face, he said.

"And everybody came out all right," he said proudly.

Mike Scales, 47, the Sandoval County communications administrator, notes that ham-radio operators play a key - and free - role in emergency management. He's handled emergency management communications for the past 20 years and teaches ham-radio classes in his spare time.

"One of the things we always find in emergency management is the things you normally rely on - the telephone, cell towers, power network, all those things will fail on you," Scales said. "By bringing the amateur radio community in, we can separate these things out and bring in support."

In the tornado that recently hit Clovis, Scales helped direct fire, police and other officials to critical areas after the telephones and power went out.

He provided similar services with the Bear Paw Fire north of Cuba last summer, he said.

And, of course, there's always the smattering of lost or injured hikers who end up where even cell phones and GPS systems don't work - but radio comes through fine, Naumburg said.

"It's La Luz," he said of the popular hiking trail, shaking his head. "They always get lost on La Luz."

While amateur radio is a critical part of the national emergency response network, it's also a fun hobby that people of all ages can enjoy, said Brian Mileshosky, 27, an engineer at Sandia National Laboratories who is also on the board of the American Radio Relay League.

"You have people that use radio to have fun and talk to people around the world, you have people who do contests on the air," Mileshosky said. "There are sub-communities. It's a hobby, but it's a service, too."

The average age of amateur radio users is about 60, but that's not the only crowd that enjoys the hobby, Mileshosky said.

Some people just like talking to new people, some like the challenge of tuning in people in remote locations, others are curious about electronics. All of that defies age boundaries, he said.

Growing up in Albuquerque, Mileshosky passed his FCC amateur radio test as a Boy Scout when he was 12 - and eventually it turned into a career, he said.

"For a lot of folks this is an introduction to engineering," Mileshosky said. "It was for me. Now, the country is having a problem with math and science, it seems a perfect time for more young people to get involved."

Young people, 18 and over, can actively participate in emergency situations by going out with their radios and relaying messages, Scales said.

"The younger kids can come in and operate radios at the Emergency Operations Center, where they're not in harm's way, and help us out, too," Scales said.

Usually, big disasters bring more people into the scene, he added.

"It's an ebb and flow like all volunteer groups, volunteer fire, volunteer police," Scales said. "After Sept. 11 (2001), we got a few more folks that were interested. The Cerro Grande Fire brought a big bunch of folks out. And Katrina was another that brought interest out."

Most radio enthusiasts are happy to educate newcomers - it's something that gives them a sense of pride, Naumburg said.

"There's a place for everybody," he said

And in his case, no matter what disasters happen in New Mexico this season, Naumburg said he'll be ready to help.

"I don't care how smart of a hiker you are - you can make a mistake," Naumburg said. "And when you do, we'll be out there ready to save your life."